MADISONVILLE, Ky. (10/3/13) – The Hopkins County Health Department has confirmed that Casa Mexicana, on the north side of Madisonville, is the source of salmonella illness that has hospitalized five people. One of them died.

According to Denise Beach, eight cases indistinguishably meet the outbreak pattern. There are 12 culture confirmed salmonella cases in all being studied by the state Cabinet for Health Services.

Casa Mexicana was closed Wednesday, Sept. 18 after a local health department inspection finding violations in the food inspection code.

Beach said samples from the restaurant's refrigerator and the outbreak strain of the eight pattern-confirmed cases are the same.

After another inspection of the restaurant, the health department determined that the violations had been properly addressed by the restaurant owner. Casa Mexicana reopened on Friday, Sept. 20.